Green seed pods

[MCKATELYN]

I just got back from Michigan today. There is a huge Yucca filamentosa that I always look forward to seeing. It's growing in a public area and really stands out just because it's shear size. It looks about the size of Tim's filamentosa x elata hybrid but without the little trunk. This time when I drove by, I didn't see it at first. I got out for a closer look and realized what happened was it has flowered. The stalk was at least 12 feet tall and covered in green seed pods. The weight of the giant stalk caused the whole Yucca to fall over sideways. I picked two strands with two pods each on them. They are full grown pods but still completely green. I have them in a vase with water. What do you think my changes are that I can actually get viable seeds from a still green pod?

[TimMAz6]

nice find. Take the pods out of the water and let them dry in a well ventilated area. They may be OK.........but let them dry out until the green is gone.

Do you know when they actually flowered? General rule of thumb is that they will need 4 weeks in the pod to be mature. I'm not sure when Yuccas bloom in your area........it's gonna be a close call. When the pods turn brown, open one up and inspect. If you have black seeds you 'should' be OK. Only time will tell.

Where the seed pods erect or hanging?

PS.......did you take any photos? Can you post them?

The naturalized Yucca concavas in my area set fruit about the second week of July.....you can still see the flower petals. So picking fruit now may be a week early or so. I typically pick the pods in early September around here.

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[MCKATELYN]

I'm not sure if it has been 4 weeks (I think just about that long). My boyfriend was waiting in the car because there wasnt really any good places to park so I don't have a good size comparison pic but here is the mother plant toppled over. In the bottom right corner you can see how small the purple conefloweres look next to Yucca.




Here are some pics of the pods

[TimMAz6]

great photos. Looks like some form of Y. flaccida/filamentosa. I'm not sure if the seeds will be mature........only time will tell. The pods do look like they are fully developed. I have loads of seeds if you want some.

[TimMAz6]

Hi Kate,

did you open the Yucca seed pods? Are the seeds black?

[MCKATELYN]

The pods are still fully green. Should I still open one and see if it's black?

[TimMAz6]

No rush........keep the pods well ventilated........when you see them turning brown you can open them up.